Eric Ravilious 1903-1942

One of the best known artists of the 1930’s and a successful and prolific wood engraver, ceramic and graphic designer, producing designs for Wedgewood and London Transport.
He lived in Eastborne most of his life and from looking at his work appeared to have great feeling for the ocean, which seemed to be echoed in his paintings of the landscape of the South Downs. He was greatly inspired by this landscape. I think many of his landscape paintingst exude a certain moodiness and a touch of surrealism about them. His paintings almost always contain the presence of man made features (fences, war constructions such as coastal defences and mooring posts) existing in concurrence with the natural world such as in: Chalk Paths (1935), The Westbury Horse (1939). In the painting Demonstrating a Gun, light is employed in such a way that it seems to very effectively illuminate and draw attention to certain areas. The fine stippling technique in his watercolours was applied in a way which gave great significance to lights and darks. Other techniques included using dry brush marks and scraping the paper to bring back the white. Paintings were very detailed yet understated and contemporary looking.


 Demonstrating a Gun - watercolour
©The Bridgeman Art Library - London, New York, Paris.

 


 
       Chalk Paths - watercolour

©The Bridgeman Art Library - London, New York, Paris.

Some of Ravilious' work was quite emotional, containing very solitary features and empty spaces, mostly I think in interiors paintings, giving importance to ordinary objects.

He was an official war artist during World War 2 and was killed on an air sea rescue mission over Iceland.

The Imperial War Museum holds an impressive exhibition of his work.

                                                    Eric Ravilious (1903-1942)- exhibition Imperial War Museum